Klarinet Archive - Posting 000061.txt from 1997/09

From: fgarcia@-----.edu (Frank Garcia)
Subj: Re: you call that music?
Date: Tue, 2 Sep 1997 10:35:06 -0400

Personally, I used to possess a similar, elitist attitude that is being
professed about Lawrence Welk (and M. Manson). There are a few things I
have to say about the subject.

1. Not all music is meant to be analyzed, or perhaps even "listened to".
Movie music, elevator music, lounge music, etc. are meant to provide a
musical backdrop and enhance an audience's atmosphere. Just imagine some of
our favorite movies without music.

Line dancing, The Hustle, the Twist, the Polka, the jitterbug, the
Charleston, all had music written in a specific style to provide "a good
beat that's easy to dance to". Is the music that accompanies these dance
forms (the Bee Gees, Donna Summers, Glenn Miller, Lawrence Welk, etc.)
valid? It really makes no difference, because the main goal of these
musical forms is to entertain. There is a varying degree of musical
creativity and intent, and granted this music may not possess the same
"aesthetic" or "poetic" substance as a Mahler symphony, but the music from
the above-mentioned artists definitely served its purpose.

2. People possess different music listening skills. Berg may be music to
some, racket to others. The unfortunate thing is that many of us who know
and "understand" Berg's music look down our noses at those who do not. I
rarely if ever see a Lawrence Welk fan looking down their nose at me for
not knowing his music.

The word Music is used to describe an incredibly diverse range of material.
Devo, Gregorian chant, Ivo Papasov, John Cage, Cecil Taylor, Bach, Lawrence
Welk, etc. Music is many different things to different people. For me,
music serves many purposes. It reminds of the past, moves me to tears,
makes me dance, and communicates in way that goes deeper than words. So, if
I was deserted on an island, and could only bring 10 cd's, would I bring
Wozzeck or Lulu? Probably not. Lawrence Welk? Uh...no. Would I bring the
Beatles? the Police? maybe. Would I bring Ravel? Definitely. To each his
own.

I am writing my views in hopes that the students on the list will always
desire to broaden their musical knowledge and experience. It is a shame
that the opinions of some of the teachers or pontificators on this list are
so conservative and narrow. As for the snobby and limited writers about
this subject, I'm afraid it's too late to learn and appreciate all that the
world of music has to offer. As they say, you can't teach an old dog...

Frank Garcia